SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Master Index of Archived Threads

SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Chip Hale 9 votes

Ron Gardenhire 12 votes

Dale Sveum 1 votes

Brandon Hyde 0 votes

Cito Gaston 3 votes

Cecil Cooper 2 votes

Frank Robinson 2 votes

Jimy Williams 0 votes

John Mizerock 0 votes

Gene Lamont 1 votes

Kevin Kennedy 1 votes

Toby Harrah 1 votes

Nick Leyva 1 votes

Lee Elia 1 votes

Chuck Cottier 1 votes

Dave Garcia 2 votes

Bobby Winkles 2 votes

Edgy MD
Oct 05 2017 04:45 PM

It's mid-day, you take a bathroom break, wash your hands afterwards (because you're not a barbarian), and in the mirror, you're just a little bit surprised to find out that you're still Sandy Alderson. Your minor surprise turns a few moments later to stress when you realize you still have a mandate to find a manager. And not just any manager, but one with big league experience.

"Who," you ask yourself, "has been around the baseball world, and knows a lot of folks? National League folks. American League folks. The Caribbean, Japan, and the mysteries of the independent minors."

You snap your fingers. "OZZIE!" Mets special catching instructor Ozzie Virgil, Sr. has been a part of a lot of organizations. He's Dominican-born, Bronx-educated, a fellow marine, and older than the rain. He knows everybody."

It takes a while to find his number in your rolodex, but he picks right up. "SANDY!" he yells.

This is a little offputting, to find out Ozzie is using a phone that identifies the caller. "Sometimes, old guys can adapt to new devices," you note.

"Ozzie, I've got a job for you."

"Listen," he answers, "d'Arnaud is trying, but he'll never be Johnny Bench. If our pitchers didn't ignore every baserunner on earth he might have a fighting chance."

"It's not about that, Oz," you say. "I need some managers."

"Davy Lopes, Mike Scoscia, Bo Porter ..." he starts sputtering.

"I got those guys, and let's face it, Scoscia is never going to be available. I need a list of 17 guys that have big league experience, but are currently available."

"Guys that you don't already have?" he reminds you.

"Yeah, I'll fax over the list of guys we've already considered. You give me 17 others."

"FAX!" he snorts. "Sandy, we're living in the future. You need to get yourself a Nokia."

"Just get me some guys, Oz. And try not to fill the lists with stiffs."

"Sure thing, Boss. And we''ll have Nido framing pitchers like Picasso by springtime."

So you hang up, and an hour later, Jay Horwitz comes into your office to show you a text he got from Ozzie. Seventeen guys on his phone. You bite your lip and go to work. Which four guys get a call?

Mgr Age Team(s) Yrs From To W L W-L% Ties G > .500 G W Post L Post W-L% Post Best Fin Wrst Fin Av Rk Plyof App WS won Penn Won ASG Mets Connection
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/3/37b017b6_davis.jpg[/fimg] Chip Hale 53 ARI 2 2015 2016 148 176 .457 0 -28 324 0 0 3 4 3.5 0 0 0 0 Mets third base coach, 2009-2010; interviewed to be manager in 2010-2011 offseason.
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/e/ee76d10c_manager.jpg[/fimg] Ron Gardenhire 60 MIN 13 2002 2014 1068 1039 .507 0 29 2107 6 21 .222 1 5 2.5 6 0 0 0 Mets minor leaguer, 1979-1986, Mets player, 1981-1985.
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/5/598ac800_davis.jpg[/fimg] Dale Sveum 54 MIL, CHC 3 2008 2013 134 202 .399 0 -68 336 1 3 .250 2 5 4.9 1 0 0 0 Cousin of John Olerud
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/f/f029df06_manager.jpg[/fimg] Brandon Hyde 44 FLA 1 2011 2011 0 1 .000 0 -1 1 0 0 5 5 5.0 0 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/9/946b8db1_davis.jpg[/fimg] Cito Gaston 74 TOR 12 1989 2010 894 837 .516 0 57 1731 18 16 .529 1 5 2.9 4 2 2 2
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/7/705fecb9_davis.jpg[/fimg] Cecil Cooper 68 HOU 3 2007 2009 171 170 .501 0 1 341 0 0 3 4 3.5 0 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/c/c3ac5482_davis.jpg[/fimg] Frank Robinson 82 CLE, SFG, BAL, MON, WAS 16 1975 2006 1065 1176 .475 0 -111 2241 0 0 2 7 4.4 0 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/3/34aac5ec_davis.jpg[/fimg] Jimy Williams 74 TOR, BOS, HOU 12 1986 2004 910 790 .535 1 120 1701 5 9 .357 1 5 2.6 2 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/0/0f65fbd5_davis.jpg[/fimg] John Mizerock 57 KCR 1 2002 2002 5 8 .385 0 -3 13 0 0 4 4 4.0 0 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/a/aa2d572f_davis.jpg[/fimg] Gene Lamont 71 CHW, PIT 8 1992 2000 553 562 .496 1 -9 1116 2 4 .333 1 6 3.1 1 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/7/788e81d0_manager.jpg[/fimg] Kevin Kennedy 63 TEX, BOS 4 1993 1996 309 273 .531 0 36 582 0 3 .000 1 3 1.8 1 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/2/27c289d1_davis.jpg[/fimg] Toby Harrah 69 TEX 1 1992 1992 32 44 .421 0 -12 76 0 0 4 4 4.0 0 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/e/e1436f5e_manager.jpg[/fimg] Nick Leyva 64 PHA 3 1989 1991 148 189 .439 1 -41 338 0 0 3 6 4.9 0 0 0 0 Managed three games for Kingsport, 2008.
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/4/4389cb58_davis.jpg[/fimg] Lee Elia 80 CHC, PHA 4 1982 1988 238 300 .442 1 -62 539 0 0 4 6 5.1 0 0 0 0
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/d/d5b67f3b_davis.jpg[/fimg] Chuck Cottier 82 SEA 3 1984 1986 98 119 .452 0 -21 217 0 0 5 7 6.0 0 0 0 0 Mets third-base coach, 1979-1981.
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/3/347bd77e_manager.jpg[/fimg] Dave Garcia 97 CAL, CLE 6 1977 1982 307 311 .497 0 -4 618 0 0 2 7 5.7 0 0 0 0 Played minor league ball for the New York Giants.
[fimg=90]https://d3k2oh6evki4b7.cloudfront.net/req/201709071/images/headshots/e/e2afb910_manager.jpg[/fimg] Bobby Winkles 88 CAL, OAK 4 1973 1978 170 213 .444 1 -43 384 0 0 4 7 5.4 0 0 0 0

HahnSolo
Oct 05 2017 04:59 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Did Chuck Cottier ever coach with the Mets? I feel like that was a name Murph used to announce with zeal.

No way is Nick Leyva only 64? Really?

Benjamin Grimm
Oct 05 2017 05:02 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

John Mizerock reminds me of the episode when Johnny Mize went bowling with Fred and Barney.

John Cougar Lunchbucket
Oct 05 2017 05:13 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

They need to bring in the 97-year-old

Edgy MD
Oct 05 2017 05:24 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Garcia sort of turned the Indians around at a time when the American League East was loaded.

Yes, Ozzie blew it on Chuck Cottier. He was part of Joe Torre's staff, 1979-1981.

Frayed Knot
Oct 05 2017 05:29 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Lee Elia, if only to hear him rant against our fans.

MFS62
Oct 06 2017 02:08 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Frayed Knot wrote:
Lee Elia, if only to hear him rant against our fans.

I remember when announcer Curt Gowdy used to pronounce his name eli. (no "ya" at the end) And he did it for years.
Later

Benjamin Grimm
Oct 06 2017 02:10 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

I always pronounced it "Jay-or-reese."

Lefty Specialist
Oct 06 2017 06:56 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Gardy. Nobody else.

Edgy MD
Oct 06 2017 07:12 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Really? Chip Hale seemed to be teed up there.

Benjamin Grimm
Oct 06 2017 07:22 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

I voted for Chip.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr
Oct 09 2017 05:47 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote:
They need to bring in the 97-year-old

YYYYYUP

That guy, Hardy, and Hale. And Elia.

d'Kong76
Oct 09 2017 06:03 PM
Re: SSK Fungo Bats presents: Find Us a Manager (Group E)

Rode the Hale/Gardenhire coattails...